There are many ways to approach weight loss. One thing you must have is a solid meal plan. Two popular diets would be low carb and low fat. Low fat has probably been better known for longer while low carb had a surge in popularity over the past ten years. Both methods can induce fat loss. So the question is, which method is best for you? There are many differences between these two diets. The food selections are drastically different. The potential side effects are to be noted as well. I will cover these two diets and list some pros and cons for each. Hopefully, you will be able to decide which is best for you.
Low Carb Diet
The concept of a low carb diet is not recent. While it’s true that this diet approach rose sharply in popularity over this past decade, the idea has been around for quite some time. Honestly, you could argue that it’s as old as humankind since early man ate a diet similar to low carb. Essentially, when following a low carb plan you restrict the number of carbohydrates you eat in a day. This number typically lands between 30 and 70. It depends on your activity level. Since your body loves to use carbs for energy, this forces you to dig into your fat stores sooner than otherwise when your body needs fuel. While this can seem like a fantastic idea, keep in mind that you must restrict your calories as well. Even if you eat zero carbs in a day, you will not lose body fat if you blow past your calorie maintenance. Calories still matter. Also, you must be aware of risks when eating low carb. For example, you may experience fatigue and digestions issues like constipation or diarrhea. This particular diet does negative impact some individuals. It’s also critical that you take a multi-vitamin.
Low Fat Diet
The low fat diet offers a decent variety of food items. You can eat most lean meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. There’s only a handful of things that you really must avoid like fatty, red meats and sugary junk food. But, if you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth there’s always the delicious choices of watermelon, strawberries, or other such fruits. One thing you should know is that simply not eating fat doesn’t mean your body can’t produce more fat. Your body has the capability of converting excess carbs and storing them as fat. So even if you eat zero fat in a day, you still must be aware of your calorie count. You can’t exceed your maintenance just as with low carb or any other kind of diet.
Which is better?
You can be successful on either diet, however I prefer low fat. This choice will allow you much more flexibility when choosing meals and snacks. It also allows you more freedom when going out to eat. Almost every diner or cafe has some low fat choices while most don’t cater to a low carb dieter’s needs. Low fat food purchases also tend to be a bit on the cheaper side. I’ve found that local markets have better and more frequent sales on produce and fowl than other items. Also, In my experience people have had fewer health issues when using a low fat diet. There were almost no negative experiences. Contrast that to several individuals that I’ve known who had bowel problems, fatigue, severe cravings, and other issues when trying low carb. Whichever you decide to do, make sure you check with your doctor first just to be safe.
